Last Updated: 2/25/24 10:42 PM PST
Important Notice: If a bill comes in later than 5PM on Fridays, check here for updates & changes! We will not be sending additional emails!
Clicking the bill number will allow you access to more information on the bill via OLIS.
IMPORTANT: You have up to 48 hours on most bills after the Public Hearing to submit your testimony. Beware, the time could be 24 hours on some, so testify now!
Clicking Submit Testimony Button below each bill in the list will allow you to fill out the testimony form online or upload pre-written testimony to OLIS.
Links are provided for more information, testimonies on various sites, including OLIS as featured testimonies.
The bill text, any submitted amendments and testimony that may have already been submitted is available in the tabs at the top of the OLIS webpage.
By Clicking the “Register to Testify” tab on OLIS, you can fill out the form to sign up to testify remotely through Microsoft Teams for the bill either via Teams Video or on the phone.
The bills below, of course, do not incapsulate all the bills for the coming week. Bills could also be added to committee agendas at any time and after the work to put this list together.
Are we missing bill? SUBMIT A BILL every Friday by 5PM for distribution in the weekly alert!
Fight for Oregon, Senator David Brock Smith, Rep. Court Boice, Rep. Virgle Osborne, Oregon Cattlemen’s Assoc, and Oregon Citizens Lobby have provided the content this week. Listed below are Bills of Concern and Bills to Support that are coming up for Public Hearings this week and/or need your voice.
Your testimonies are greatly needed in the fight for Oregon! Our goal is to make it easy for you to testify and share! Anyone can subscribe or unsubscribe to these alerts! Encourage folks to subscribe!
Visit FightforOregon.com Weekly Alerts for a more updated version of this week’s bills! We are committed to NOT inundate your email box because these are a moving target and change daily, so the latest news will be on the website!
Please Review the Schedule, bills can be added at any time for Public Hearing
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/Committees/Meeting/List
Key Deadlines
Because we are in a 35-day sprint, the legislative deadlines happen much sooner when compared to the long session. We have already passed the first key deadline:
Please Review the Schedule, bills can be added at any time for Public Hearing
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/Committees/Meeting/List
Monday - February 26, 2024
Bills to Support
Senate Committee On Judiciary 1:30 pm
HB 4146 A – The Act allows petitions for certain abuse court orders to be filed in the county in which the abuse occurred. The Act also changes an element of a crime related to violating privacy. The Act goes into effect when the Governor signs it. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.4). [Digest: The Act allows petitions for certain abuse court orders to be filed in the county in which the abuse occurred. The Act also changes the elements of two crimes related to violating privacy. The Act goes into effect when the Governor signs it. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.4). Provides that a petition for a Family Abuse Prevention Act order, Elderly Persons and Persons with Disabilities Abuse Prevention Act order or sexual abuse restraining order may be filed in the county in which the abuse occurred. Removes the requirement that a disclosed image be identifiable for purposes of the crime of unlawful dissemination of an intimate image. [Modifies the crime of invasion of privacy in the second degree to include the recording of a person who is dressing, undressing, bathing or toileting in an area in which the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.] Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
MUST HAVE SUPPORT FOR -24 and -4 AMENDMENTS
Joint Committee On Addiction and Community Safety Response 5:00 pm
HB 4002 – Measure 110 Repeal/Reform
SUPPORT -24 Amendment We have been working with our District Attorneys, Sheriffs, Police Chiefs, Cities and Counties to repeal Measure 110’s decriminalization of hard drugs while reforming needed treatment and their resources.
Message from Senator David Brock Smith:
SUPPORT -4 Amendment As many of you know, many of my colleagues and I have signed a Letter of Support to Texas Governor Abbott regarding his efforts with the ongoing border crisis. Oregon is not immune to the illegal immigration and drug cartels flooding into the United States. My -4 ICE Amendment will be on OLIS at THIS LINK on Monday. We must involve our U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to assist in dealing with this drug crisis.
The Amendment will:
SECTION 1. (1) Notwithstanding ORS 181A.820 and 181A.822 to
181A.829, when a person is arrested for delivery or manufacture of
fentanyl, the arresting officer shall immediately notify federal immigration
authorities.
“(2) Notwithstanding ORS 135.230 to 135.290, a person arrested for
delivery or manufacture of fentanyl is not eligible for any form of release,
except as required by the Oregon Constitution, until the notification
described in subsection (1) of this section has occurred and
federal immigration authorities have confirmed that the person does
not need to be detained for violating federal immigration law.
“(3) As used in this section, ‘federal immigration authorities’ means
agents of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement,
or a successor agency, who receive reports of and investigate violations
of immigration law.”.
Tuesday - February 27, 2024
Bills of Concern
Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Wildfire 8:00 am
HB 4059 A – The Act tells a state agency to study issues around a genus of plants in the cabbage and mustard family in an area south of Salem. The Act tells the state agency to report on the results of the study. (Flesch Readability Score: 65.1). Directs the State Department of Agriculture to study issues relating to brassica production in the Willamette Valley Protected District and report on the results to an appropriate committee or interim committee of the Legislative Assembly no later than September 15, 2025.
Read Testimonies
Featured Testimony: Ag Business Organizations in Opposition
HB 4016 A – Relating to natural resources; prescribing an effective date.
Catchline/Summary: Digest: The Act makes certain changes to a program for planned fires. The Act directs an agency to extend the deadline for a grant program for protecting homes from fire. The Act directs agencies to report on creating a program for protecting homes from fire. The Act creates a fund related to responding to wildfire smoke. (Flesch Readability Score: 71.3). Makes certain changes to the Prescribed Fire Liability Pilot Program. Directs the Department of Consumer and Business Services to allow a person to apply for a grant under the Fire Hardening Grant Program on or before December 31, 2025. Directs the Department of Consumer and Business Services and the Department of the State Fire Marshal to report, on or before September 15, 2024, to committees or interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to natural resources on a proposal for a proactive home hardening program. Establishes the Smoke Preparedness and Response Fund in the State Treasury. Continuously appropriates moneys in the fund to the Department of Environmental Quality for assistance with community smoke response plans. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
House Committee On Rules 1:00 pm
SB 1538 A – The Act makes many changes to election laws. (Flesch Readability Score: 71.8). Permits an agent of a candidate to file a translation of a candidate statement with the Secretary of State. Permits candidate statements, certain arguments regarding measures and legislative arguments in support of statewide measures to be translated into the most commonly spoken languages of each county in which the statements will appear in a voters’ pamphlet. Specifies the information to be included in county voters’ pamphlets. Removes the requirement for a repeat public certification test of a vote tally system immediately before ballot scanning begins. Reduces the limitation on the number of voter registration cards that may be requested. Permits the Secretary of State to issue a certificate of ascertainment of presidential electors in accordance with the requirements of federal law. Increases the limit of aggregate contributions and expenditures before certain requirements apply. Becomes operative on January 1, 2025. Changes the civil penalties and legal expenses that can be paid with contributions received by certain persons and committees. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Read Testimonies
Featured Testimony: Americans for Fair Elections
Wednesday - February 28, 2024
Bills of Concern
****MAJOR THREAT TO FOREST LANDOWNERS/WOOD PRODUCTS****
Senate Committee on Finance & Revenue 3:00 pm
SB 1593 – Relating to timber taxation; providing that this Act shall be referred to the people for their approval or rejection.
Digest: The Act would impose a new tax on the gross proceeds from the sale of unprocessed timber cut on private land larger than 500 acres held in common ownership. The Act would provide funding to counties and to protect homes, neighborhoods and water supplies from wildfire damage. The Act would repeal the current forest products harvest tax. The Act will be referred to the people at the 2024 general election. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.3). Imposes a new tax on the gross proceeds from the sale of unprocessed timber harvested on private land in excess of 500 acres held in common ownership in this state. Repeals the current forest products harvest tax regime. Refers the Act to the people for their approval or rejection at the next general election
Read Testimonies
Featured Testimony: This tax will Lead to significant economic ramnifications
Thursday - February 29, 2024
There are no bills at this writing.
Please Review the Schedule, bills can be added at any time for Public Hearing
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/Committees/Meeting/List
Friday - March 1, 2024
There are no bills at this writing.
Please Review the Schedule, bills can be added at any time for Public Hearing
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/Committees/Meeting/List
ACTION ALERT!
SB 1589 –Digest: Makes voting in person the normal method for voting. Requires voters to show picture ID when voting or requesting a ballot. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.2). Makes in-person voting on the date of an election the standard method for conducting an election. Allows an elector to request a ballot that may be voted by mail if the elector is unable to vote in person on the date of the election. Retains vote by mail as the primary method for conducting elections for military and overseas electors and for electors who have a mailing address outside of Oregon. Requires electors to present valid government-issued identification when appearing in-person to vote or when requesting a ballot be sent by mail. Requires all ballots to be returned by the date of an election. Removes a requirement that the state pay postage for ballots returned by mail.
We want our representatives to act on this bill! – Only a couple of weeks left.
Take action:
- First read the bill and share with others; it has been referred to rules committee; no OLIS testimony taken yet. Bill OLIS page
- Contact each legislator listed below via email and/or phone and submit comments in support of this bill. (sample below.)
- When it is time to submit public testimony for this bill, we will remind you to submit it then.
Bill Summary
- Makes in-person voting on the date of an election the standard method for conducting an election.
- Allows an elector to request a ballot that may be voted by mail if the elector is unable to vote in person on the date of the election.
- Retains vote by mail as the primary method for conducting elections for military and overseas electors and for electors who have a mailing address outside of Oregon.
- Requires electors to present valid government-issued identification when appearing in-person to vote or when requesting a ballot be sent by mail.
- Requires all ballots to be returned by the date of an election.
- Removes a requirement that the state pay postage for ballots returned by mail.
Here are our sample comments. (You can copy and paste for your convenience. But we encourage you to express how you personally feel about the bill, and how it may affect you personally.)
I support this bill. Voting in-person is already an option for all counties in Oregon. However, it is not used as the standard method. Current vote-by-mail procedures mean no photo ID verification is required. Signatures are used as the basic means of verification. And signatures can easily be forged or produced by AI.
It is common sense to require a photo ID when voting. It should be the minimal security measure for identifying a voter in-person. This same type of identification is required for financial and other sensitive/high-risk transactions. It is also standard for lower-risk situations because it makes sense to vet people at a local level. There is no benefit to obscuring the level of security when it is easy to obtain and request state or other registered identification.
This bill will work to secure our elections and ensure a level of integrity surrounding our processes that has been missing throughout the state of Oregon for some time.
I SUPPORT SB 1589!
Rules Committee Contacts – We are asking them to act on the bill:
Senator Kate Lieber
Party: Democratic
District: 14 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1714
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-223, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: Sen.KateLieber@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lieber
Senator Tim Knopp
Party: Republican
District: 27 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1727
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-323, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: Sen.TimKnopp@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/knopp
Senator Bill Hansell
Party: Republican
District: 29 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1729
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-415, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: Sen.BillHansell@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/hansell
Senator James I. Manning Jr.
Party: Democratic
District: 7 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1707
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-209, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: Sen.JamesManning@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/manning
Senator Elizabeth Steiner
Party: Democratic
District: 17 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1717
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-213, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: Sen.ElizabethSteiner@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/steiner
Committee Contacts:
Senator David Brock Smith
Party: Republican
District: 1 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1701
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-316, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: Sen.DavidBrockSmith@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithd
Senator Lynn Findley
Party: Republican
District: 30 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1730
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-301, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: Sen.LynnFindley@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/Findley
Senator Kim Thatcher
Party: Republican
District: 11 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1711
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-307, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: Sen.KimThatcher@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/thatcher
Representative Court Boice
Party: Republican
District: 1 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1401
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-476, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.CourtBoice@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/boice
Representative Vikki Breese-Iverson
Party: Republican
District: 59 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1459
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-395, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.VikkiBreeseIverson@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/breese-iverson
Representative Ed Diehl
Party: Republican
District: 17 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1417
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-378, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.EdDiehl@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/diehl
Representative Christine Goodwin
Party: Republican
District: 4 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1404
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-386, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.ChristineGoodwin@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/goodwin
Representative James Hieb
Party: Republican
District: 51 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1451
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-377, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.JamesHieb@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/hieb
Representative Emily McIntire
Party: Republican
District: 56 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1456
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-379, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.EmilyMcIntire@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mcintire
Representative Virgle Osborne
Party: Republican
District: 2 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1402
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-375, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.VirgleOsborne@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/osborne
Representative Mark Owens
Party: Republican
District: 60 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1460
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-475, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.MarkOwens@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/owens
Representative E. Werner Reschke
Party: Republican
District: 55 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1455
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-383, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.EWernerReschke@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/reschke
Representative Greg Smith
Party: Republican
District: 57 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1457
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-482, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.GregSmith@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithg
Representative Brian Stout
Party: Republican
District: 31 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1431
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-380, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.BrianStout@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/stout
Representative Boomer Wright
Party: Republican
District: 9 – View District Map
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1409
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-372, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.BoomerWright@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/wright
Are we missing a bill? Submit a Bill is now available! Submittal deadlines are Fridays by 5PM! We’ll try our best to get it on the list!
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Disclaimer: Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the various authors, and not necessarily each author’s employer, organization, committee or other group or individual associated with in professional or personal cpacity, unless explicitly stated. Any views expressed here are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual.